Measurement increaser



Sept. 1, 1925. 1,552,101

J. w. BARNA. JR MEASUREMENT INCREASEE Filed Nov. 26. 1923 v E l ll l ln" Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

f UNITED STATES .rosnrn WILLIAM BAR/NA, 33., on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS} MEASUREMENT INCREASER.

' Application filedNovember 26,1923. Serial No. 6761983;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. BARNA, Jr, a citizenof the: United States, residing at Chicago inthe county of Gookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measurement Increasers, of which the followlngls a specification.

My invention relates to a new and improved measurement increaser especially useful for; ,enlargingythe, throats" of shoe vamps, and consists in the matters hereinafter described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In certain types or styles of shoes, such as pumps, strap-oxfords and baby-shoes, as usually manufactured the throat of the vamp pinches the instep of the foot of the wearer; when the vamp is lasted its throat conforms snugly and smoothly to the shape of the last at that point so that when the shoe is finished the vamp measurement in its throat is the same as the size of the last with the result that frequently thethroat of the vamp pinches the instep, this being par-l on the instep portion of the shoe-last a filler or increaser of sufficient thickness to give the desired enlargement to the throat of the vamp; but, in using such devices, when the vamp is stretched or pulled on the last its throat is displaced on the increaser and frequently drawn off of it. i

The object of my invention is to provide a detachable increaser which conforms to the shape of the last and is temporarily mounted on the under surface of the vamp at its throat before the upper is put on the last and remains in place between the throat and last during the lasting operation to increase the measurement and give a slight enlargement of the throat, and which is readily detached from the vamp when the shoe is removed from the last. By my invention the increaser moves with the vamp as the latter is stretched or pulled on the last, so that it is always in position at the throat of the vamp and acts to give the desired increased measurement or enlargement of the throat in any position of the vamp on the last. 7

In the accompanying drawing which exemplifies a practical embodiment of my invention' Figure 1 is a side view o fia last and-- shoe upper with: the" measurement increaser: of my invention 1n positlon; Fig; 2

is: a detaillongitudinalsectional View on .practicallylful l size: scale"; Fig; 3 is a sectionalwviewon the line:3-3- in Fig1 2;: Fig.

A is a top plan view of the device, and Fig.

5 is a bottom planwview efthe'same; I, In the: drawing the referenceletter} A represents a last,; and B- represents a lowshoe upper in whichi'the throat is indicated at b. The measurement increaser comprises a saddle-like member C conforming to theshape of the last, and a suitable clip constructed to detachably hold the saddle on the under surface of the vamp of the vamp at the throat; the clip may be variously formed, and preferably consists of a springmetal bow D fastened at the free end of its lower leg to the under side of the saddle as at cl and extending around the top edge thereof and having its upper leg extending down practically into contact with the upper surface of the saddle and slightly upturned at its free end as at d to provide a flaring mouth for the easy assemblage of the saddle on the vamp. The saddle is preferably shield shaped in outline as shown, and may be constructed in various cross-sectional contours to conform to the shape and contour of any last desired for any particular size and kind of shoes. The saddle preferably is made of flexible material to readily conform to the shape of different lasts. In any case it is so shaped that when the vamp to which it is attached is drawn smoothly over the last in the process of making the shoe the throat of the vamp is slightly enlarged. The saddle will vary in thickness according to the increased throat measurement or enlargement desired in the finished shoe.

In practice the device is assembled in position on the vamp as shown before the latter is placed on the last by passing the edge of the vamp-throat into the space between the saddle and its upper flexible leg, so that the latter presses the vamp down on the saddle. When the upper is assembled on the last the saddle seats on'the last and during the lasting operation it remains in position between the vamp-throat and the last in all positions which the vamp may take on the last and conforms the throat to the enlarged contour which it affords, thereby increasing the vamp-measurement in the throat and providing a slight enlargement of the throat which prevents the vamp pinching the instep of the wearer. When the upper is removed from the last the device comes away with the vamp, and may be easily slipped off the latter and used again with another upper on the same or another last. As the devices are not attached to the lasts they may be used interchangeably with different lasts.

I claim:

1. A detachable measurement increaser for shoe Vamps comprising a saddle-like member conforming to the shape of a last and a clip fastened to said member and constructed to engage the vamp-throat and hold said member in position between the vamp and last during the lasting operation.

7 2. A detachable measurement increaser for shoe Vamps comprising a saddle-like member conforming to the shape of a last and a spring-clip fastened to said member and having a flexible portion, overlying said member and engaging the upper edge of a vamp in position upon said member to hold the vamp-throat in position on said member during the lasting operation.

3. A detachable measurement increaser for shoe Vamps comprising a flexible saddle-like member conforming to the shape of a last, a clip composed of a pair of spring-legs united by a bow to straddle 'theupper edge of said member, and means to fasten the lower leg to said member, the upper legof said clip being constructed to engage the upper surface of a vamp in position on the saddle-member to hold the vamp-throat in place thereon during the lasting operation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH WILLIAM BARNA,JR. 

